[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Ralesk at 14 Feb 2003 13:04:26: Re: So I think I might have this problem....
As an answer to: So I think I might have this problem.... written by Justin at 14 Feb 2003 11:36:24:
>I just found this web site. I am 20 years old and it has never even occured to me that the foreskin on my penis is suppose to move down over the head? Is that right? I think thats what it is saying. And mine has never even come close to that, I can just barely see the actual penis when I pull it back until it hurts, about a little bigger than a dime of actual penis exposed.
Before we get started here, the actual penis is what's hanging between your legs. The penis head ("glans"), that's what you are willing to see. Now to the rest.
>So if this means I have this problem, what does that mean for me?
First of all, it hasn't caused problem till now, has it? Now look at it the same way then. It's not a problem still, though it is favourable, and preferable that the foreskin can be pulled back.
>I masturbate and do not have alot of sexual experience. I worry that my becoming use to masturbation with a foreskin and with it not moving at all may make it hard for me to become used to or acheive the same level of sexuality if it is at all altered.
Since you can expose a little of the glans, I would not call it not moving at all. You can, but you don't need to alter it majorly to fix the problem.
>Has anyone had the same problems?
I know a couple of people who have, and for example my ex-bf has successfully made it all work without any surgical alteration of his penis. He was also 20, like you.
>What are the options, I would really like to just leave it but do I actually have the problem?
Your options are the following:
- Skin growth exercises: also known as "stretching". This is the most safe, least invasive treatment, also cheap (doesn't cost anything but a couple of minutes of private time a day). Needs your endurance and some enthusiasm, as it fixes the problem somewhat slowly (depending on the person, from one month to one year). Does not remove anything from your penis. All you have to do is to pull at the foreskin, apply tension to it, much enough, but not as much as to cause damage/bad pain. For example, you take the tip of the foreskin in your fingers and pull out forwards; hold it there for a couple of minutes each session. Have one to three sessions a day. Later, you can also pull in a way you'd open the opening of the foreskin. The first direction (away from body) will make the underside of the foreskin, also including the fraenulum, grow; the second direction (pulling it open) will try to relieve the tightness of the opening. Do not pull too hard. If you do not favour the results or fail (are lazy), you can always opt for the surgical alterations, so this gives you the most options of the three.
- Dorsal or ventral slit: the least invasive of the surgical methods. The surgeon will simply slice the foreskin parallel to the shaft, but not remove anything. As any operations, it does have the chance to show complications, though less chance than a circumcision. It doesn't usually look too good, though, especially when you get older. Will definitely solve the problem with the tightness, but it will make your glans be exposed, and that can be both inconvenient for a while, and also will make it less sensitive as the glans would be rubbed to clothes all the time and get used to that (and it is mainly sensitive to rubbing, by default). However, you'll still have your foreskin (although sliced up), and all the nerves it has, too. In case you are not in favour of the results, you can still get circumcised. Dorsal slit cannot be restored to a covering foreskin again, not without plastic surgery, at least.
- Circumcision: the most invasive of all, they cut down a part of the foreskin. Can be made loose or tight. Loose circumcisions usually result in a couple of inches of remaining foreskin, and retain some of the mobility. Tight circs are, well, tight; sometimes also all of the inner side of the foreskin is removed. It is not unusual that you'll be needing to use artificial lubricants to masturbation in the latter case. In both cases, heterosexual sexual intercourse usually needs lubrication as well. Circumcision is irreversible, results in removal of skin, nerves. Blood vessels are rearranged. Solves the problem with tightness as there is nothing that can be tight. Your penis will be swollen for a couple of weeks from the operation. Complications are possible, though often not present. Just as by dorsal slit, the penis head is exposed to dry and rough objects, resulting in the change of its surface and its sensitivity. In case you end up unsatisfied with the choice, you can try restoring the coverage and lengthening the skin, but what had been cut away won't return.